This year - the game is pretty much a race, to get the most laps in. However, giant balls (40", 7.6 lbs) can also be used to score points. The balls can be knocked off the "rack" during the autonomous period for points. The balls can then be thrown over the rack or pushed under the rack for points. Throwing the balls over gets the team a lot more points than pushing them under. The robots also get points just for going around the track.
Fourth year - the robot had to put inner tubes on a horizontal pole. The robots on the team had to climb on top of each other at the end. You got more points if you make longer rows/columns and more bonus points for lifting the robot higher. Its transmission went bad after several matches, and we even had to sit out for one match. Our platform was also a bit small for the other robots. Nevertheless, we did score some points and did better than Berea.
Third year - had to shoot a ball into a goal (like basketball) and defend its own goal from other robots' shooting. It was our most successful year. We had a solid robot and even wore out the tread while practicing.
Please Note: I (Valera Trubachev) haven't been on the team before our third year. As such, I can't provide very detailed descriptions of those years.
Second year - had to lift and stack a series of pyramids. It was successful.
First year - had to push balls up a ramp. It also had to lift itself up, but we couldn't do that (not enough experience).
In Robotics, you can do one or more of the following:
If you choose to program, you'll be writing the code for the robot to work (in languages like C, C++, and EasyC). Without the code, the robot won't "know" what to do in response to the controls. At the beginning of the math, there is usually an autonomous mode period, in which the robot controls itself using a camera (usually, there is a green light on the field for it to sense). This year, the autonomous mode is actually "hybrid" mode, in which a team member is allowed to use a remote (plain TV remote, nothing fancy) to help the robot.
In Design, you'll brainstorm and think up designs for our robot. There are certain guidelines set by FIRST® that we have to follow, but our mentors help and guide us. There are also team members that look up stuff when necessary to check if we are staying within the rules. Everyone reads the manual and its successive updates to stay on top of what we can and cannot do. There are also online forums, like ours, at which you can get questions answered if the manual is unclear (it's usually pretty clear, but still).
Manufacturing is a big part of our job. It's essentially making the robot, including our own electrical and pneumatic work. As part of the electronics, we have to wire everything correctly, so nothing is backwards, loose, etc. We have to make sure that the robot follows the rules set by FIRST®, so that we don't get disqualified. There are restrictions on weight, dimensions, what can be used, etc. All of those rules are in the manual for that year.
Our robot must look good as well as function well. We need to have plates on our robot to identify the team it's on. Besides the main competition, there are also other competitions, like for animations and websites. Please visit the Animations page for more information, where the current animation competition is explained. We can get an trophy if we get first place with the animation. We are constantly improving both the website and the animation, in hopes getting awards for them.
We go to competition every year, in hopes to win. Although we haven't won yet, we are getting a lot better and will likely win in the near future. At the competition, we do last-minute work, as seen necessary by the practice matches. We also get food and have fun watching teams compete. There is a designated driver and human player, who stand separated from the robot by a plexiglass wall. However, the human player can give game pieces and such (if allowed) to the robot. This year, there's also a robot trainer who can help the robot during hybrid (formerly autonomous) mode using an infrared remote.